12-24-2008, 07:23 PM
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Go Lakers!!
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 930
Rewards: 217
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NBA Christmas Day Special - First and Last Post - GOY
Los Angeles Lakers (-2) vs. Boston Celtics (+2)
Well well...the big showdown is here..NBA's best team against the struggling Lakers. Not surprised that the line is -2 for Lakers..was expecting around -2, -3. Now, most of you are probably assuming I'm making a homer post because I'm a Laker fan. Truth is, I've been going against the Lakers the past few games for a while. Whenever they have been put out as 10-15 point favorites the last few games I have gone against them because I watch every game they play and I am not afraid to admit that they are playing terribly. However, yesterday I saw the line at +3 for the Lakers and was all over it. Now, there is no proof that I bet against the Lakers because I don't post my bets, and there really isn't proof that I bet for them last night. Although I did post somewhere in this section that I was sure they would cover and beat Hornets by 12. Either way, take it for what it's worth. I'm not looking for credit, nor am I looking to be flamed, just posting my pick for tomorrow and I'm trying to give truthful reasoning.
Now onto the actual business. This Laker team who sits at 23-5 is not a team that should be 23-5. They started the year off in great fashion with energy and a will to win. However, after a few games they seem to have gotten bored. The bench was way over their heads and the starters put it on cruise control. Now most Laker fans will blame Phil jackson for not motivating the team, but from what I saw he couldn't do anything with the poor play. It was tough for me to watch the Lakers play miserable ball and win games against terrible teams by small margins. Not only that but it was harder for me to watch them lose to Miami. However, in the Orlando game they seemed to have gotten some edge back. Kobe had an extra jump in his step and other players were more aggressive too. They didn't play a good game but they looked better. Memphis game was another let down but they played OK defense and got the win. The Lakers had a closed door meeting, and the next game was against the Hornets. A tough match-up against the #2 seed in the West. Perfect game for the Lakers to bounce back and I bet the house that they would (again there is no proof for this, so you don't have to believe me). I knew that against the Hornets this team would snap out of it and be ready for their ,match-up against the Celtics.
Celtics, the best team in basketball will be going for their 20th straight win. A team that puts a grid lock on other teams and when they are on offensively they are unstoppable. However, in this game you will see the Lakers prevail. No longer will a soft Gasol be on a pushover like Perkins, and no longer will Odom be guarding Garnett. Also, Ray Allen on Kobe or even Pierce on Kobe spells disaster. The only way you stop Kobe is if you help out, and now the Lakers have 2 big men that can finish and score making it hard. Off the bench, you have Trevor Ariza to body up Pierce. Ariza and Bynum were the two missing pieces last year in the finals. These 2 are out there for their defense and hustle. Although Bynum has not been playing too well this year, he is a big body that plays good man defense and can get the boards. Celtics as impressive as they have been won't be able to win in Laker town against a pumped up team that has a lot more to prove.
Gasol is going to have a huge game and so is Kobe. I see the Lakers winning by 8-9 points.
*10 - Los Angeles Lakers (-2)
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